These perennial aquatic plants, sometimes called marginal plants or shallow water plants, provide vertical accent and texture contrast to your water garden. Some are grown solely for their leaves, while others boast flowers at various times of the season. When planted in a container, their size and spread can often be limited. When planted in a pond bank or along a stream bed, these plants can be invasive. Do not plant those that will escape cultivation. Bog Plants require fertilization two or three times a year. Fertilize with tablets according to label instructions received when purchased. For rapid show from newly planted plants we recommend planting in groups of three bare root plants. Do not mix plant varieties, they will compete for growing space. Our nursery customers find that the container-grown plants are fuller and more established. Whether you want to extend your flowering season or add a lush, feel to any water garden, Bog Plants are an important ingredient. Available in hardy and tropical, this group of plants provide an added dimension to any pond.

Quick Bog Plant Facts

All bog plants prefer full sunlight. Those that tolerate partial sun are so noted in their descriptions in our online store. Your plants will become tall and weak stemmed in lower light conditions if they are not suited to less sunlight.

The top soil you will need should be a good quality, heavy clay-loam mixture. Do not use subsoil. Avoid lightweight soil amendments as they will float when placed in the pond.

Use a planting container that is as large as you can comfortably fit in the space you have. Larger containers will produce larger plants.

Fertilization will determine the rate of growth and the lushness of the foliage. Excessive feeding will cause the plant to grow very large. Feed most bog plants one to three times per growing season using fertilizer tablets.

Keep dead or dying leaves pinched off for the best appearance. Remove dead flowers to prevent seed production and to boost continued blooming on most varieties.

Water depth varies according to the plant species, see the descriptions in our online store for specific information. Winter care requires you to place the pot below the freeze-line during winter for hardy plants, and to take tropical varieties indoors or to a greenhouse.

Bog plants with floating leaves will not tolerate turbulence around their leaves, they need quieter water. Vertical plants do well in moving water as well as in still water, and also make good bank stabilizers.